Dark Nights Metal #1 – PopnComics

Unless you have been under a rock for the last two months, you have surely heard of Dark Nights Metal. The DC Summer event that isn’t a reboot, but simply touted by Scott Snyder, as a ton of Kirby-Esq fun mixed with heavy metal type of event. With the first issue here, I can assure you that all of the hype was real and this book is metric tons of fun. There will be minor spoilers ahead so beware!

What is this all about?

The superstar BATMAN team of writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo reunite for a massive, universe-spanning event! DARK NIGHTS: THE FORGE and THE CASTING hinted at dark corners of reality that have never been seen till now! Now, as DARK DAYS: METAL begins, the Dark Multiverse is revealed in all its devastating danger-and the threats it contains are coming for the DC Universe! DARK DAYS: METAL is a DC event unlike any other-one that will push Batman, Superman and heroes of the Justice League beyond their limits to take on threats unlike any our world has ever seen! It will take the combined might of the World’s Greatest Heroes as you’ve never seen them before to face what’s coming their way!

The Review

Right away let’s talk about the Voltron in the room here, the cold open on this book is the best I have ever seen. Across any medium, full stop. From the references back to the 90s and Aquaman’s hook to the full Justice Leauge Voltron just before the splash page with the title. This felt like a movie opening for the latest summer blockbuster, just full out badass. These opening pages set the pace for the rest of this issue and it is a joy filled ride.

Upon returning home from Moguls War Moon, Batman is alerted to a catastrophe in Gotham. Challengers Mountian has appeared in the middle of Gotham, basically destroying it. Inside they find a cryo chamber of sorts with, what I would assume is the Challengers and Red Tornado inside. Before they can investigate any further they are confronted by Lady Blackhawk. For those of you who read All-Star Batman, and you should be, you will recognize the Blackhawks from that title. Where their mysterious ways and leader are revealed here. We are introduced to Lady Blackhawk aka Kendra Saunders aka Hawkgirl. She warns of a full-scale invasion that is coming, something so dangerous that she won’t even speak it aloud.

Arriving on Blackhawk Island, Kendra breaks down everything she knows about Nth Metal and how it all ties into what is going on here. The major reveal is that there is a Dark Multiverse upon which the Multiverse we know sits and it makes up the majority of the Universe. The Challengers were sent into this Dark Multiverse to find proof of it. Challenger Mountain was ripped out of reality and all they heard from the team was screams. Along with an ominous warning from Red Tornado about a “Great Dragon“, a beast that prowls in the dark. Legend states that he would be able to enter our world through a human doorway, someone that had been treated with five divine metals and that someone is none other than Batman himself.

There is a lot more to the comic, but you won’t find any huge spoilers here. Go out and pick up this title to find out everything!

Final Words

Scott Snyder has once again shown us why we all love him so much. With threads from his New 52 Batman run and his All-Star Batman run coming to fruition here. Not to mention the cornucopia of references from other major arcs from the past. His love for DC Comics and their characters truly shows here. With some characters returning for Rebirth and others coming back to DC. That final page is a killer and I can’t wait to see what is in store.

Greg Capullo is back and man does it feel great, teamed up with Jonathan Glapion and FCO Plascencia again. From start to finish this book is visually stunning, each page packed with detail and such vibrancy. You can feel the love and fun that was had while making this title. This team is by far my favorite and seeing them here reminds me why I missed them after their New 52 run on Batman.

Dark Nights Metal #1 is the perfect kickoff to a comic book event, with plenty of fun, action, and intrigue. As I have said before, DC is showing the industry how to do events right, this is the gold standard. There is something here for everyone, from long time fans to those who just started at Rebirth. I have now read this book 4 times and I plan to go back for more, each time finding something new and leaving with a huge grin on my face.

Everyone needs to go check this title out, like right now. The DC Universe couldn’t be in better hands.

More Info

On a scale of 1 to 10 this book is off the charts, I couldn't have imagined a better opening book for this series. While there are tons of references and deep cuts to be found here, this title is also new reader friendly. So I can easily say that everyone should read this title.